Chapter 1, Verse 3
पश्यैतां पाण्डुपुत्राणामाचार्य महतीं चमूम्। व्यूढां द्रुपदपुत्रेण तव शिष्येण धीमता।।
paśyaitāṁ pāṇḍu-putrāṇām ācārya mahatīṁ camūm vyūḍhāṁ drupada-putreṇa tava śiṣyeṇa dhīmatā
Meaning
O teacher, behold this mighty army of the sons of Pandu, so skilfully arrayed by the son of Drupada — your own talented student.
Word-by-Word Meaning
Explanation & Commentary
Duryodhana addresses Dronacharya with a pointed rhetorical sting: the opposing army has been arrayed by Dhrishtadyumna, born specifically to kill Drona, yet educated by Drona himself. The phrase 'your own student' carries a veiled accusation — a subtle attempt to unsettle the teacher's loyalty and remind him of what hangs in the balance for the Kaurava side.
This reveals Duryodhana's manipulative intelligence. Rather than simply praising or criticising the enemy, he frames the situation in terms of personal obligation, trying to make the conflict personal for his general. It is a classic strategy of leaders who motivate through fear and ego rather than through shared values.
In daily life, we encounter similar dynamics — people who remind us of favours owed or loyalties due in order to steer our choices. The Gita invites us to remain anchored in our own dharma rather than be swayed by such emotional leveraging.
💡 Key Takeaway
Be alert to manipulation that dresses obligation as loyalty; act from inner clarity, not engineered guilt.
Related Verses
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच | धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः | मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत सञ्जय ॥१॥
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca | dharma-kṣetre kuru-kṣetre samavetā yuyutsavaḥ | māmakāḥ pāṇḍavāś caiva kim akurvata sañjaya ||1||
Dhritarashtra said: O Sanjaya, after assembling in the place of pilgrimage at Kurukshetra, what did my sons and the sons of Pandu do, being desirous to fight?
सञ्जय उवाच दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा। आचार्यमुपसङ्गम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत्।।
sañjaya uvāca dṛṣṭvā tu pāṇḍavānīkaṁ vyūḍhaṁ duryodhanas tadā ācāryam upasaṅgamya rājā vacanam abravīt
Sanjaya said: Having seen the army of the Pandavas arrayed in battle formation, King Duryodhana then approached his teacher Drona and spoke these words.
अत्र शूरा महेष्वासा भीमार्जुनसमा युधि। युयुधानो विराटश्च द्रुपदश्च महारथः।।
atra śūrā maheṣvāsā bhīmārjuna-samā yudhi yuyudhāno virāṭaś ca drupadaś ca mahārathaḥ
Here in this army are great heroes, mighty archers equal to Bhima and Arjuna in battle — Yuyudhana, Virata, and the great chariot-warrior Drupada.